As a team: Bendigo Pioneers and Echuca combined for a Monday night hit-out. Photo: Josh Huntly
Echuca’s junior footballers came prepared when news filtered through that NAB League stars from the Bendigo Pioneers would be taking training.
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Pioneers stars descended on Victoria Park to inspire a 60-strong group of young Murray Bombers players in a Monday night run around, where several Echuca youth gleefully snatched an opportunity to mix it with the talented players.
“The highlight towards the end was when some of the kids had textas tucked into their socks to ask (the players) for autographs,” Pioneers senior assistant Matt Dunham said.
“They said they’re not quite AFL players yet but the kids said, ‘we know, but you probably will be in a year or two’.”
On the ball: Pioneers duo Oliver Poole (back left) and Oskar Smartt (back right) watch on as the kids smash through the pack. Photo: Josh Huntly
With the talent taking training at Echuca’s home ground, they may well be correct with a mix of established and emerging stars turning out.
Tongala product Harley Reid joined Echuca’s Corbin Anderson and Jed Brereton, in tandem with Leitchville-Gunbower duo James Barrat and Oskar Smartt, to run drills across the course of the session.
Moama pair Billy Barnes and Lachlan Hogan chipped in alongside Echuca United talent Oliver Poole, with the Eagle saluting his debut for the Pioneers earlier this season.
Despite it being the off-season for the Pioneers’ women’s side, the likes of Niah Bacon, Shaleah and Jemika Cooper, Teagan Williams, Maddie Elliot and Lexie Gregor all helped put the juniors through their paces.
With the Pioneers providing the primary elite talent pathway for footballers as the regions NAB League representative squad, Dunham said the program, now into its third consecutive year, was an important initiative.
Eyes up: Bendigo players take Echuca’s juniors for a session. Photo: Josh Huntly
“The aim was to get that top talent from the region back into the community,” he said.
“On the other side of the fence it’s good for our players; we work incredibly hard to develop them as talented footballers, but we also strive to make them better individuals.
“We have a huge representation of kids from around the Echuca region within the Pioneers.
“On average we usually have at least one player from the region that generally makes an AFL list which is quite exciting.”
For Bendigo, their next clash comes this Sunday, August 7 in an important round 15 clash against Dandenong Stingrays.
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